Automobile-locking apparatus



A. L. F. WATTEL.

AUTOMOBILE LOCKING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 31,1920.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

UNITED STAT ACHILLE neon FRANCOIS WATTEL, 0F SEVRFS, FRANCE.

AUTOMOBILE-LOCKING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. A

Application filed July 31,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ACHILLE Lr'zoN FRAN 001s WATTEL, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at 22 Avenue de Bellevue, Sevres, in the Department of Seine et Oise, France, have invented a new and useful Automobile-Locking Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an apparatus designed to cut oil the ignition for the engine, to cut off the electric current from the battery of accumulators to the starting-motor and to immobilize the car by locking the shaft driving the differential, by the manipulation of a handle, and in this way to render the theft of the car impossible even if towed and to render it impossible to use the car without the consent of the owner.

In a general way, the invention comprises a shaft operated by a handle which can be locked in three positions; along its length this shaft carries two electric switches and at one end a cam-plate acting upon a springpressed bolt which can immobilize the transmission shaft, the handle being inclosed in a box, which can be locked, While each of its three positions corresponds to normal running, interruption of the electric circuits for ignition and starting, and finally, in addition, immobilization of the transmission shaft of the car.

The invention is illustrated by way of an indicative example in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of the general arrangement of the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the segment for immobilizing the handle.

Fig. 3 is adetail view of the spring- -pressed bolt for the transmission shaft, and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views of the mounting of the handle upon its shaft.

1 represents the actuating handle pivoted at 2 upon the shaft 8 in such a manner that, when it is raised, its pin 3 is disengaged from the-notches 5, 6, 7- of the fixed'segment 4, according to the position it is desired to give to the handle 1, while it can then be immobilized in this position by causing the in 3 to enter the corresponding notch.

The shaft 8, actuated by the handle 1, is supported'by the bearings 4 and 9 and carries at its extremity" the cam-plate 10.,QA

lever 11 pivoted on the support '12 is held 1. An apparatus for Patented Nov, 1 1921.

1920. Serial No. 400,557.

in contact with the camby the spring 13 supported at 14:. A pinion 15 is keyedon the transmission shaft. The shaft 8 also carries a switch 16 connecting the battery of accumulators to the starting motor, as well as a switch 17 for cutting off the igniting current in case current from the battery is employed, or for connecting to the enginebody in the case of. the use of a magneto. The handle 1 is inclosed in a box 18 which can be locked and is placed upon the dashboard of the car or under the front seat. The method of operation is the followmg: -When running the pin '3 of the handle 1 occupies notch 5, as shown in the drawing. v

If the driver wishes merely to cut off the current and to allow. the car to be moved,

either for towing purposes or for moving about a garage, he places the handle in position 6; the switches 16 and 17 have cut off the current, the engine can no longer operate and the lever 11 still retains the same position being held by the high portion of the cam, which latter has a flat surface 10. If the pin 3 of the handle lis resting (Fig. 3

When the lid of the box 18 is closed and locked it is impossible to operate the handle through the intermediary of theshaft 8 as its position is fixed by the pin 3 in the notch which has been selected. The device for locking the transmission shaft is of course inclosed in a casin in order to prevent easy access to the tooth of the lever 11 for the pinion 15 for the purpose of disengaging it. I The inventlon has been described purely by way of an example and it is obvious that numerous modifications could be made in details without departing from the spirit thereof. I claim:

immobilizing an automobile, comprising a handle, a shaft adapte ed to be rotated by said handle, circuitmaking and breaking means upon said shaft, means carried by said shaft for locking the transmission shaft of the car, a notched segment for holding said handle' in the desired position and a box having a lock inclosing said handle.

2. An apparatus for immobilizing automobiles comprising a handle, a shaft adapted to be operated by said handle, circuit making and breaking means for the ignition and starting current on said shaft, a pinion on the transmission shaft of the car, a locking member adapted to engage said pinion,

a cam on said shaft for disengaging said 15 locking memberfrom said pinion, a spring adapted to force said locking member into engagement with the teeth of said pinion, a notched segment for holding said handle in the desired position, a box with a lock inelosing said handle and segment, and a closed casing surrounding said locking member and pinion.

ACHILLE LEON FRANCOIS WATTEL.

Witnesses:

A. V. DAvIDs, H. R. BUNHAM. 

